elkins



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

IRA s. ELKINS, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

METAL LATHING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,599, dated August 6, 1889.

Application filed April 22, 1889. $eria1No. 308,193. (No model.)

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved metal lathing. Fig. '2 is a cross-section showing one of the loops; Fig. 3, a top view a showing the disposition of the loops over the surface of themetal'; Fig. 4:, a top View showing a modified. form of placing the loops; and Fig. 5, a view showing a modified construction of the loop.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, easily-manufactured metal lathing, so constructed that it will require the smallest possible amount of mortar, and which will form a strong durable wall when in position, and is so made that it can be readily utilized for brackets, cornices, or other purposes, as well as for plain plastering purposes.

It consists in having the lath made of sheet metal with loops drawn up at regular intervals over its face, and in further providing the edges of the slots, from which the loops are drawn, with upwardly turned flanges, whereby the mortar is provided with rounded faces on the back side of the sheet, so as to prevent cutting of the back clinch, all of which will now be set forth in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the sheet of metal, of any suitable gage and size. In this sheet I cutparallel slits in pairs, at regular intervals, so that the rows alternate, as shown in Fig. 3. The body of the metal between the slits is then drawn forward or upward by suitable dies, so as to form loops B. The outer surfaces of these loops are slightly rounded, as shown. All the loops are on the face side of the plate, or on the side to which the mortar is applied, thereby furnishing a plain smooth back face to the plate, enabling it to be snugly fitted to the joist or studding.

Each of the slitted edges of the body of the plate is flanged, as shown at C-that is, the edge adjacent the slit is turned outwardly or forwardly, so as to form a rounded edge on the rear side, as shown at D,Fig. 2. The flanging of these edges serves a double purpose, first, to prevent too great a waste of mortar through the openings between the loop and slitted edge of the metal, and, second, to form a rounded edge, against which the clinchingtongue of the mortar can rest without being cut off, as would otherwise be the case, by its own weight. The loops thus constructed form arches over the entire surface of the plate, making it very rigid, and greatly adding to the strength of the plate. As the loops are directly over the openings from which they are drawn, only a comparatively small amount of mortar will pass through the openings, thus effecting a great saving in the amount of mortar used, as compared with wood or wire lathing, and requiring much less mortar than is used on any other form of metal lathing which depends on open work to secure the clinch.

While I prefer the disposition of the loops as shown in Fig. 3, it is obvious that the loops may be placed at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 4. It is obvious that by placing the loop in this way the plate becomes trussed in both directions, an advantage not obtainable where the loops are in rows, as shown in Fig. 3. For certain purposes, and especially where no bending of the plate is required, the right-angled disposition of the at the sides of the loop, which may be an advantage for certain kinds of work, especially where a heavy coating of mortaris desired on the walls.

'What I claim as new isp 1. A metal lath consisting of a piece of metal formed with a series of pairs of parallel slits arranged at suitable intervals, and having the body of the metal between the slits of each pair drawn forward or upward to form loops, all upon the same side of the sheet, and the edges of the slits adjacent to the loopsbeing provided with forwardly or upwardly turned flanges.

2. A sheet-metal lath having loops made in its face, arching over the openings thus formed, the edges of the openings having upward flanges, substantially as specified.

3. As a new article of manufacture, asheetmetal lath having loops made at regular intervals over its entire surface on one side only, and upwardly or forwardly turned flanges along the edges of the said openings, substantially as described.

4. A metal lath having expanded loops 011 

